finasteride affecting beard growth? Is this possible?

[overzealousfollicles]

Hi guys,

First time poster, long time sufferer of hair loss here! I have been on finasteride since I was 21 years old, and am 24 now. Save a 3 month block where I didn't take it when I was 23 (which I sincerely regret as it caused my hairloss to regress from almost unrecognizable hair loss to a point where is tough to conceal) I have been on it consistently.

One question I had was regarding finasteride's effect on beard growth. Obviously finasteride works by blocking the production of DHT...but I have also heard that facial hair actually requires DHT to mature into permanent, terminal hair.

My beard growth has been quite stagnant in recent years and I have nowhere near the ability to grow respectable facial hair. My dad has a full beard but my mother's side of the family are all very hairless. I originally chalked it up to the fact that I am an EXTREMELY late bloomer (puberty, height, even my adult teeth took 3 - 4 years longer to come in than most of my peers). But recently I have been worried what I have now is all that I'm going to get.

So....is it the DHT? Is my beard still progressing? Or is it (and probably the most likely scenario) that I just had the bad luck to inherit hair loss without the ability to grow proper facial hair? Does anyone have any experiences?

Thanks guys.

 

[abcdefg]

I think its DHT and testosterone both play very important roles in all hair growth. Its anyone guess how much or what it does because I really dont think anyone knows for sure. There is certainly a chance lowering DHT in a dramatic amount could affect beard growth to some amount and again its anyone guess how much that is. Everyone will experience different things because its also gene expression but minus all DHT + T I dont think any man or woman grows terminal facial hair. Women with high androgens can grow facial hair too so there is a strong link

 

[sumitdhawan]

Yes, its likely the finasteride. DHT is needed to induce facial hair growth (just look at people with 5ar deficiencys). Once you have the hair though its there, tho without DHT it might be thinner/grow slower.

 

[swingline747]

I swear when I was on finasteride my back hair and arm hair was growing back MUCH slower and thinner. I have never had super great facial hair tho.

 

[abcdefg]

Yeah it could have some effect but it varies by person. I still think testosterone plays a pretty big role in it too though its not as simple as just removing DHT. Its pretty clear how important androgens are though when you see most women dont grow facial hair and when they do they usually have abnormally high androgens. If we had something stronger then finasteride I think male pattern baldness could be stopped for many years